Ep4 receptor agonists

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to potent selective agonists of the EP, subtype of prostaglandin E2 receptors, their use or a formulation thereof in the treatment of glaucoma and other conditions which are related to elevated intraocular pressure in the eye of a patient. This invention further relates to the use of the compounds of this invention for mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This case claims the benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/421,402, filed Oct. 25, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the eye wherein the intraocular pressure is too high to permit normal eye function. As a result, damage may occur to the optic nerve head and result in irreversible loss of visual function. If untreated, glaucoma may eventually lead to blindness. Ocular hypertension, i.e., the condition of elevated intraocular pressure without optic nerve head damage or characteristic glaucomatous visual field defects, is now believed by the majority of ophthalmologists to represent merely the earliest phase in the onset of glaucoma.

Many of the drugs formerly used to treat glaucoma proved unsatisfactory. Early methods of treating glaucoma employed pilocarpine and produced undesirable local effects that made this drug, though valuable, unsatisfactory as a first line drug. More recently, clinicians have noted that many β-adrenergic antagonists are effective in reducing intraocular pressure. While many of these agents are effective for this purpose, there exist some patients with whom this treatment is not effective or not sufficiently effective. Many of these agents also have other characteristics, e.g., membrane stabilizing activity, that become more apparent with increased doses and render them unacceptable for chronic ocular use and can also cause cardiovascular effects.

Agents referred to as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors decrease the formation of aqueous humor by inhibiting the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. While such carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are now used to treat elevated intraocular pressure by systemic and topical routes, current therapies using these agents, particularly those using systemic routes are still not without undesirable effects. Topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,098; 4,416,890; 4,426,388; 4,668,697; 4,863,922; 4,797,413; 5,378,703, 5,240,923 and 5,153,192.

Prostaglandins and prostaglandin derivatives are also known to lower intraocular pressure. There are several prostaglandin types, including the A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I and J-Series (BP 0561073 A1). U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,819 to Bito describes the use and synthesis of PGAs, PGBs and PGCs in reducing intraocular pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,857 to Goh et al. describes the use and synthesis of PGD₂ and derivatives thereof in lowering intraocular pressure including derivatives wherein C-10 is replaced with nitrogen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,153 to Ueno et al. describes the use and synthesis of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandins and prostaglandin derivatives to lower intraocular pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,353 describes the use of eicosanoids and eicosanoid derivatives including prostaglandins and prostaglandin inhibitors in lowering intraocular pressure. See also WO 00/38667, WO 99/32441, WO 99/02165, WO 00/38663, WO 01146140, EP 0855389, JP 2000-1472, U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,275 and WO 00/38690.

Prostaglandin and prostaglandin derivatives are known to lower intraocular pressure by increasing uveoscleral outflow. This is true for both the F type and A type of prostaglandins. This invention is particularly interested in those compounds that lower IOP via the uveoscleral outflow pathway and other mechanisms by which the E series prostaglandins (PGE₂) may facilitate IOP reduction. The four recognized subtypes of the EP receptor are believed to modulate the effect of lowering IOP (EP₁, EP₂, EP₃ and EP₄ ; J. Lipid Mediators Cell Signaling, Vol. 14, pages 83-87 (1996)). See also J. Ocular Pharmacology, Vol. 4, 1, pages 13-18 (1988); J. Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 11, 3, pages 447-454 (1995); J. Lipid Mediators, Vol. 6, pages 545-553 (1993); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,598 and 5,462,968 and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 31, 12, pages 2560-2567 (1990). Of particular interest to this invention are compounds, which are agonist of the EP₄ subtype receptor.

A problem with using prostaglandins or derivatives thereof to lower intraocular pressure is that these compounds often induce an initial increase in intraocular pressure, can change the color of eye pigmentation and cause proliferation of some tissues surrounding the eye.

As can be seen, there are several current therapies for treating glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure, but the efficacy and the side effect profiles of these agents are not ideal. Therefore, there still exist the need for new and effective therapies with little or no side effects.

A variety of disorders in humans and other mammals involve or are associated with abnormal or excessive bone loss. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis, Paget's disease, abnormally increased bone turnover, periodontal disease, tooth loss, bone fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis, osteogenesis imperfecta, metastatic bone disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and multiple myeloma. One of the most common of these disorders is osteoporosis, which in its most frequent manifestation occurs in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by a low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Osteoporotic fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. As many as 50% of women and a third of men will experience an osteoporotic fracture. A large segment of the older population already has low bone density and a high risk of fractures. There is a significant need to both prevent and treat osteoporosis and other conditions associated with bone resorption. Because osteoporosis, as well as other disorders associated with bone loss, are generally chronic conditions, it is believed that appropriate therapy will typically require chronic treatment.

Two different types of cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts are involved in the bone formation and resorption processes, respectively. See H. Fleisch, Bisphosphonates In Bone Disease, From The Laboratory To The Patient, 3rd Edition, Parthenon Publishing (1997), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Osteoblasts are cells that are located on the bone surface. These cells secrete an osseous organic matrix, which then calcifies. Substances such as fluoride, parathyroid hormone, and certain cytokines such as prostaglandins are known to provide a stimulatory effect on osteoblast cells. However, an aim of current research is to develop therapeutic agents that will selectively increase or stimulate the bone formation activity of the osteoblasts.

Osteoclasts are usually large multinucleated cells that are situated either on the surface of the cortical or trabecular bone or within the cortical bone. The osteoclasts resorb bone in a closed, sealed-off microenvironment located between the cell and the bone. The recruitment and activity of osteoclasts is known to be influenced by a series of cytokines and hormones. It is well known that bisphosphonates are selective inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption, making these compounds important therapeutic agents in the treatment or prevention of a variety of systemic or localized bone disorders caused by or associated with abnormal bone resorption. However, despite the utility of bisphosphonates there remains the desire amongst researchers to develop additional therapeutic agents for inhibiting the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts.

Prostaglandins such as the PGE₂ series are known to stimulate bone formation and increase bone mass in mammals, including man. It is believed that the four different receptor subtypes, designated EP₁, EP₂, EP₃, and EP₄ are involved in mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The major prostaglandin receptor in bone is EP₄, which is believed to provide its effect by signaling via cyclic AMP.

In present invention it is further found that the formula I agonists of the EP₄ subtype receptor are useful for stimulating bone formation.

WO 02/24647, WO 02/42268, EP 1132086, EP 855389, EP 1114816, WO 01/46140 and WO 01/72268 disclose EP₄ agonists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention-relates to potent selective agonists of the EP₄ subtype of prostaglandin E2 receptors, formulations thereof, and their use in the treatment of glaucoma and other conditions that are related to elevated intraocular pressure in the eye of a patient. The invention also relates to the use of the compounds to provide a neuroprotective effect to the eye of mammalian species, particularly humans. The invention also relates to the use of the compounds for mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

More particularly, this invention relates to novel EP4 agonist having the structural formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein,

-   Y¹ is

1) CH₂CH₂,

2) CHCH, or

-   Y is C(O) or CH(OH); -   A is (CH₂)_(n); -   n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; -   W a bond, unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkylene, or C₁₋₆ alkylene substituted     with 1, 2, 3, or 4 halogen atoms; -   Z is

1) O,

2) S,

4) HCGCH,

5) C≡C, or

6) a bond;

-   Q is a disubstituted aryl or heteroaryl ring, wherein one ring atom     of the ring is attached to the moiety

and another ring atom is attached to the moiety

-   R¹ is

COR⁵,

OH,

CN,

(CH₂)₁₋₃ CO₂R⁶,

C(O)NHSO₂R⁸,

SO₂R⁷,

(CH₂)₀₋₄SO₃R⁶,

CF₂SO₂NH₂,

SO₂NH₂,

SO₂NHCOR⁸,

PO(OR⁷)₂,

C₁₋₄ alkoxy,

hydroxymethylketone, or

(CH₂)₀₋₄R^(k), wherein R^(k) is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a);

-   R² is

1) C₁₋₆alkyl,

2) (CH₂)₀₋₈C₆₋₁₀aryl,

3) (CH₂)₀₋₈R^(m),

4) (CH₂)₀₋₈C₃₋₈cycloalkyl,

5) O—C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

6) O—C₆₋₁₀aryl,

7) O—R^(m),

8) O—C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl

wherein aryl, R^(m), and cycloalkyl are unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 groups of R^(b);

-   R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of

1) halogen, and

2) C₁₋₆ alkyl, or

-   R³ and R⁴, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached,     form a C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl ring; -   R⁵ is

1) hydrogen,

2) OH,

3) CH₂OH,

4) C₁₋₆ alkoxy,

5) NHPO₂R⁶,

6) NHR⁹,

₇) NHSO₂R⁸, or

8) NR⁶R⁷;

-   R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from the group consisting of     hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, and C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl; -   R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₆₋₁₀aryl,     R^(n), and C₁₋₄alkyl; -   R⁹ is C(O)R¹⁰ or SO₂R¹⁰; -   R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₁₋₄ alkyl; -   R^(a) and R^(b) are independently selected from the group consisting     of

1) C₁₋₆alkoxy,

2) C₁₋₆alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with

-   -   -   a) C₁₋₆ alkoxy,         -   b) C₁₋₆ alkylthio,         -   c) CN,         -   d) OH, or         -   e) CF₃,

    -   3) CF₃,

    -   4) nitro,

5) amino,

6) cyano,

7) C₁₋₆alklamino,

8) halogen

9) ORc,

10) OCH₂PC, and

11) CH₂OR^(c);

-   R^(c) is

1) C₆₋₁₀aryl,

2) R^(s), or

3) C₃₋₈cycloalkyl; and

-   R^(k), R^(m), R^(n) and R^(s) are independently selected from the     group consisting of     -   1) a stable monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 5, 6 or 7 ring         atoms, or a stable bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 8, 9, 10, or         11 zing atoms, wherein the monocyclic ring has 1, 2, 3, or 4         heteroatoms, independently selected from the group consisting of         O, S or N, and wherein the bicyclic ring has 1, 2, 3, or 4         heteroatoms, independently selected from the group consisting of         O, S or N, and     -   2) a stable monocyclic or bicyclic heterocycloalkyl ring system         a stable, saturated monocyclic or bicyclic ring system having 3         to 10 ring atoms, wherein 1, 2, 3, or 4 ring atoms are         heteroatoms selected from O, S and N.

The compounds of the present invention may have chiral centers and occur as racemates, racemic mixtures and as individual diastereomers, or enantiomers with all isomeric forms being included in the present invention. The compounds of the present invention may also have polymorphic crystalline forms, with all polymorphic crystalline forms being included in the present invention. The compounds of the invention also include tautomeric forms, with all tautomeric forms being included in the present invention.

The invention also includes prodrug forms of the above-described compounds. Prodrugs, such as ester derivatives of active drug, are compound derivatives which, when absorbed into the bloodstream of a warm-blooded animal, cleave in such a manner as to release the drug form and permit the drug to afford improved therapeutic efficacy. The prodrugs may be administered in low amounts relative to the amounts of antagonist that would ordinarily be administered. The prodrugs may be administered orally. The prodrugs retain structural integrity while passing though the gastrointestinal system, and are effectively delivered to cells. They are subjected to metabolic reactions to form the active acid which then interacts with the platelet receptor site.

This and other aspects of the invention will be realized upon inspection of the invention as a whole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a class of compounds of the invention, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, Y^(l) is CHCH and Y is CH(OH).

In a subclass of this class, A is (CH₂)₁₋₃ and W is a bond or (CH₂)₁₋₃.

In a group of this subclass, 1) R¹ is COOH or tetrazole, 2) R² is phenyl, and 3) R³ and R⁴ are halogen, or R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon to which they are attached, form a cyclopropyl ring.

In a subgroup of this group, Q is selected from the group consisting of

In a family of this subgroup, Q is selected from the group consisting of

In the above family of structures,

indicate the atoms in Q to which variables Z and W defined above are attached. Examples of the subgroup include

-   (1)     5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyzrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic     acid -   (2)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)thien-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (3)     5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylic     acid -   (4)     2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic     acid -   (5)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (6)     2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxylic     acid -   (7)     [5-(2-{((2)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}ethyl)thien-2-yl]acetic     acid -   (8)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{2-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-ylmethyl)thien-2-yl]ethyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (9)     2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-oxazole-5-carboxylic     acid -   (10)     5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-3-hydroxy-3-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)prop-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic     acid -   (11)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-3-hydroxy-3-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)prop-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)thien-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (12)     5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-arboxylic     acid -   (13)     4-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)benzoic     acid -   (14) 3-(3-{-(2R)-2-[(E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy     phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)benzoic acid -   (15)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[3-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (16)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[4-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one -   (17)     3-[5-({(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}methyl)thien-2-yl]propanoic     acid -   (18)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({5-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]thien-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one -   (19)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[3-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)propyl]thien-3-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one -   (20)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-fluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[2-(1H-tetraazol-2-yl)ethyl]thien-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one -   (21)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-fluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one -   (22)     (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]benzyl}pyrrolidin-2-one

The invention is described herein in detail using the terms defined below unless otherwise specified.

The term “therapeutically effective amount”, as used herein, means that amount of the EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I, or other actives of the present invention, that will elicit the desired therapeutic effect or response or provide the desired benefit when administered in accordance with the desired treatment regimen. A preferred therapeutically effective amount relating to the treatment of abnormal bone resorption is a bone formation, stimulating amount. Likewise, a preferred therapeutically effective amount relating to the treatment of ocular hypertension or glaucoma is an amount effective for reducing intraocular pressure and/or treating ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein, means generally suitable for administration to a mammal, including humans, from a toxicity or safety standpoint.

The term “prodrug” refers to compounds which are drug precursors which, following administration and absorption, release the claimed drug in vivo via some metabolic process. A non-limiting example of a prodrug of the compounds of this invention would be an acid of the pyrrolidinone group, where the acid functionality has a structure that makes it easily hydrolyzed after administration to a patient. Exemplary prodrugs include acetic acid derivatives that are non-narcotic, analgesics/non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs having a free CH₂COOH group (which can optionally be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, e.g. —CH²COO-Na+), typically attached to a ring system, preferably to an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system.

The term “aliyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to a monovalent alkane (hydrocarbon) derived radical containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms unless otherwise defined. It may be straight, branched or cyclic. Preferred alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. When the alkyl group is said to be substituted with an alkyl group, this is used interchangeably with “branched alkyl group”. Corresponding divalent groups are referred to as “alkylene” groups, e.g. methylene, ethylene, etc.

Variables which include alkenylenes such as ethenylene (e.g. —CH═CH—), unless otherwise specified, are represented by “CHCH”.

The term “alkoxy” refers to C₁-C₆ alkyl-O—, with the alkyl group optionally substituted as described herein. Examples of alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy and isomeric groups thereof.

The terms “halogen” or “halo” refer to chlorine, fluorine, iodine or bromine.

The term “aryl” refers to aromatic rings e.g., phenyl, substituted phenyl and the like, as well as rings which are fused, e.g., naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and the like. An aryl group thus contains at least one ring having at least 6 atoms, with up to five such rings being present, containing up to 22 atoms therein, with alternating (resonating) double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms or suitable heteroatoms. The preferred aryl groups are phenyl, naphthyl and phenanthrenyl. Unless otherwise specified, the aryl ring can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of —CF₃, —CN, C₁₋₄ alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, halogen, e.g. F, Cl, Br, or I, —NO₂, —NR^(d)R^(f), —SO₂R^(d), SO₂NR^(d)R^(f), —CONR^(d)R^(f), or COR^(d), wherein R^(d) and R^(f) are independently selected hydrogen and C₁₋₄ alkyl. Preferred substituted aryls include phenyl and naphthyl.

The term “heterocycloalkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to a stable, saturated monocyclic or bicyclic ring system having 3 to 10 ring atoms, wherein 2 to 6 ring atoms are carbon atoms, and 1 to 4 ring atoms are heteroatoms selected from O, S and N. Unless otherwise specified, the heterocycloalkyl ring can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of C₁₋₄ alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, amino, and halogen, e.g. F, Cl, Br, or I.

The term “cycloallyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to a cyclic alkyl group (nonaromatic) having the specified number of carbon atoms, e.g., C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl has 3, 4, 5, 6, 5 or 7 carbon atoms. Unless otherwise specified, the cycloalkyl ring can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of C₁₋₄ alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, amino, and halogen, e.g. F, Cl, Br, or I. Examples include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, and cyclopentyl.

The term “heteroatom” means O, S or N, selected on an independent basis.

The term “heteroaryl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to an unsaturated monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon group having 5, 6 or 7 ring atoms, or an unsaturated bicyclic aromatic group having 8, 9, 10, or 11 ring atoms, containing 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms, independently selected from the group consisting of O, S or N, in which a carbon or nitrogen atom is the point of attachment. Examples of this type are pyzrole, pyridine, oxazole, thiazole, tetrazole, and oxazine. Unless otherwise specified, the heteroaryl ring can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of C₁₋₄ alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, amino, and halogen, e.g. F, Cl, Br, or L For purposes of this invention the tetrazole includes all tautomeric forms. Additional nitrogen atoms may be present together with the first nitrogen and oxygen or sulfur, giving, e.g., thiadiazole.

Bicyclic heteroaryl rings include bicyclic ring systems in which either or both rings contain heteroatoms. Included within, but not limiting this term, are systems in which one ring contains 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms and the other ring is a benzene ring.

Bicyclic heterocycloalkyl rings include bicyclic ring systems in which either or both rings contain heteroatoms. Included within, but not limiting this term, are systems in which one ring contains 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms and the other ring contains zero heteroatoms.

The heterocycloakyl or heteroaryl ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom that results in the creation of a stable structure. Examples of such rings include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofrryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, 1,3-dioxolanyl, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, morpholinyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, oxazolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperdinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, thienyl, and triazolyl.

The term “a disubstituted aryl or heteroaryl ring” includes aryl and heteroaryl rings in which two ring carbon atoms have substituents attached and do not have hydrogen atoms attached, e.g. 2,5-substituted thiophene, furan, and thiazole, and 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-substituted benzene. Such disubstituted rings include, but are not limited to, those structurally depicted as

In a preferred embodiment, the disubstituted aryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

In another preferred embodiment, the disubstituted heteroaryl ring is

When Q is defined to include substituted heteroaryl rings shown as

“(Z)” and “(W)” represent variables “Z” and “W”, and are presented to clearly identify the atom in Q to which these variables are attached.

The term “substituted,” as used herein, means that any one or more hydrogens on the designated atom is replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom's normal valency is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in a stable compound. When a substituent is keto (i.e., ═O), then 2 hydrogens on the atom are replaced.

The term “agonist” as used herein means EP₄ subtype compounds of formula I interact with the EP₄ receptor to produce maximal, super maximal or submaximal effects compared to the natural agonist, PGE2. See Goodman and Gilman, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9^(th) edition, 1996, chapter 2.

Another embodiment of this invention is directed to a composition containing an EP₄ agonist of Formula I and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Yet another embodiment of this invention is directed to a method for decreasing elevated intraocular pressure or treating glaucoma by administration, preferably topical or intra-camaral administration, of a composition containing an EP₄ agonist of Formula I and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma or a combination thereof is also included in this invention.

This invention is further concerned with a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula L This invention is further concerned with a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The claimed compounds bind strongly and act on PGE₂ receptor, particularly on the EP₄ subtype receptor and therefore are useful for preventing and/or treating glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Dry eye is a common ocular surface disease afflicting millions of people. Although it appears that dry eye may result from a number of unrelated pathogenic causes, the common end result is the breakdown of the tear film, which results in dehydration of the exposed outer surface of the eye. (Lemp, Report of the Nation Eye Institute/Industry Workshop on Clinical Trials in Dry Eyes, The CLAO Journel, 21(4):221-231 (1995)). One cause for dry eye is the decreased mucin production by the conjunctival cells and/or corneal epithelial cells of mucin, which protects and lubricates the ocular surface (Gipson and Inatomi, Mucin genes expressed by ocular surface epithelium. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 16:81-98 (1997)). Functional EP4 receptors have been found in human conjuctival epithelial cells (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,477, incorporated by reference in its entirety) and it is appreciated that both human corneal epithelial cells (Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 16:81-98(1997)) and conjuctival cells (Dartt et al. Localization of nerves adjacent to goblet cells in rat conjunctiva. Current Eye Research, 14:993-1000 (1995)) are capable of secreting mucins. Thus, the compounds of formula I are useful for treating dry eye.

Macular edema is swelling within the retina within the critically important central visual zone at the posterior pole of the eye. An accumulation of fluid within the retina tends to detach the neural elements from one another and from their local blood supply, creating a dormancy of visual function in the area. It is believed that EP₄ agonist which lower IOP are useful for treating diseases of the macular such as macular edema or macular degeneration. Thus, another aspect of this invention is a method for treating macular edema or macular degeneration.

Glaucoma is characterized by progressive atrophy of the optic nerve and is frequently associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). It is possible to treat glaucoma, however, without necessarily affecting IOP by using drugs that impart a neuroprotective effect. See Arch. Ophthalmol. Vol. 112, January 1994, pp. 37-44; Investigative Ophthamol. & Visual Science, 32, 5, April 1991, pp. 1593-99. It is believed that EP₄ agonist which lower IOP are useful for providing a neuroprotective effect. They are also believed to be effective for increasing retinal and optic nerve head blood velocity and increasing retinal and optic nerve oxygen by lowering IOP, which when coupled together benefits optic nerve health. As a result, this invention further relates to a method for increasing retinal and optic nerve head blood velocity, or increasing retinal and optic nerve oxygen tension or providing a neuroprotective effect or a combination thereof by using an EP₄ agonist of formula I.

The compounds produced in the present invention are readily combined with suitable and known pharmaceutically acceptable excipients to produce compositions which may be administered to mammals, including humans, to achieve effective IOP lowering. Thus, this invention is also concerned with a method of treating ocular hypertension or glaucoma by administering to a patient in need thereof one of the compounds of formula I alone or in combination with a β-adrenergic blocking agent such as timolol, betaxolol, levobetaxolol, carteolol, levobunolol, a parasympathomimetic agent such as pilocarpine, a sympathomimetic agents such as epinephrine, iopidine, brimonidine, clonidine, para-aminoclonidine, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as dorzolamide, acetazolamide, metazolamide or brinzolamide; a prostaglandin such as latanoprost, travaprost, unoprostone, rescula, S1033 (compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,052; 5,296,504; 5,422,368; and 5,151,444); a hypotensive lipid such as lumigan and the compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,708; a neuroprotectant disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,931, particularly eliprodil and R-eliprodil as set forth in WO 94/13275, including memantine; or an agonist of 5-HT2 receptors as set forth in PCT/US00/31247, particularly 1-(2-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1H-imdazol-6-ol fumarate and 2-(3-chloro-6-methoxy-indazol-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine.

This invention is also concerned with a method for increasing retinal and optic nerve head blood velocity, or increasing retinal and optic nerve oxygen tension or providing a neuroprotective effect or a combination thereof by administering to a patient in need thereof one of the compounds of formula I alone or in combination with a β-adrenergic blocking agent such as timolol, betaxolol, levobetaxolol, carteolol, levobunolol, a parasympathornimetic agent such as pilocarpine, a sympathominetic agents such as epinephrine, iopidine, brimonidine, clonidine, para-aminoclonidine, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as doizolamide, acetazolamide, metazolamide or brinzolamide; a prostaglandin such as latanoprost, travaprost, unoprostone, rescula, S1033 (compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,052; 5,296,504; 5,422,368; and 5,151,444); a hypotensive lipid such as lumigan and the compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,708; a neuroprotectant disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,931, particularly eliprodil and R-eliprodil as set forth in WO 94/13275, including memantine; or an agonist of 5-H12 receptors as set forth in PCT/US00/31247, particularly 1-(2-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1H-imdazol-6-ol fumarate and 2-(3-chloro-6-methoxy-indazol-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for increasing retinal and optic nerve head blood velocity, or increasing retinal and optic nerve oxygen tension or providing a neuroprotective effect or a combination thereof is also included in this invention.

This invention is further concerned with a method for treating macular edema or macular degeneration by administering to a patient in need thereof one of the compounds of formula I alone or in combination with a β-adrenergic blocking agent such as timolol, betaxolol, levobetaxolol, carteolol, levobunolol, a parasympathomimetic agent such as pilocarpine, a sympathomimetic agents such as epinephrine, iopidine, brimonidine, clonidine, para-aminoclonidine, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as dorzolamide, acetazolamide, metazolamide or brinzolamide; a prostaglandin such as latanoprost, travaprost, unoprostone, rescula, S1033 (compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,052; 5,296,504; 5,422,368; and 5,151,444); a hypotensive lipid such as lumigan and the compounds set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,708; a neuroprotectant disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,931, particularly eliprodil and R-eliprodil as set forth in WO 94/13275, including memantine; a Maxi-K channel blocker such as Penitrem A, paspalicine, charybdotoxin, iberiotoxin or as disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 60/389,205, filed Jun. 17, 2002 (Attorney Docket 21121PV), 60/389,222, filed Jun. 17, 2002 (Attorney docket 21092PV), 60/458,981, filed Mar. 27, 2003 (Attorney docket 21101PV4), 60/424,790, filed Nov. 8, 2002 (Attorney docket 21260PV), 60/424,808, filed Nov. 8, 2002 (Attorney docket 21281PV), 09/765,716, filed Jan. 17, 2001, Ser. No. 09/764,738, filed Jan. 17, 2001 and PCr publications WO 02/077168 and WO 02/02060863, all incorporated by reference in their entirety herein; or an agonist of 5-HT2 receptors as set forth in PCT/US00/31247, particularly 1-(2-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1H-imdazol-6-ol fumarate and 2-(3-chloro-6-methoxy-indazol-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for macular edema or macular degeneration is also included in this invention.

Compounds of the invention may also be used to treat neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain syndromes can develop following neuronal injury and the resulting pain may persist for months or years, even after the original injury has healed. Neuronal injury may occur in the peripheral nerves, dorsal roots, spinal cord or certain regions in the brain. Neuropathic pain syndromes are traditionally classified according to the disease or event that precipitate them. Neuropathic pain syndromes include: diabetic neuropathy; sciatica; non-specific lower back pain; multiple sclerosis pain; fibromyalgia; HIV-related neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia; trigeminal neuralgia; and pain resulting from physical trauma, amputation, cancer, toxins or chronic inflammatory conditions. These conditions are difficult to treat and although several drugs are known to have limited efficacy, complete pain control is rarely achieved. The symptoms of neuropathic pain are incredibly heterogeneous and are often described as spontaneous shooting and lancinating pain, or ongoing, burning pain. In addition, there is pain associated with normally non-painful sensations such as “pins and needles” (paraesthesias and dysesthesias), increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli (thermal, cold, mechanical hyperalgesia), continuing pain sensation after removal of the stimulation (hyperpathia) or an absence of or deficit in selective sensory pathways (hypoalgesia).

Compounds of the invention may also be used to treat acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, colon cancer, colitis, and V latency.

The EP₄ agonist used in the instant invention can be administered in a therapeutically effective amount intravenously, subcutaneously, topically, transdermally, parenterally or any other method known to those skilled in the art. Ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions are preferably adapted for topical administration to the eye in the form of solutions, suspensions, ointments, creams or as a solid insert. Ophthalmic formulations of this compound may contain from 0.001 to 5% and especially 0.001 to 0.1% of medicament. Higher dosages as, for example, upto about 10% or lower dosages can be employed provided the dose is effective in reducing intraocular pressure, treating glaucoma, increasing blood flow velocity or oxygen tension. For a single dose, from between 0.001 to 5.0 mg, preferably 0.005 to 2.0 mg, and especially 0.005 to 1.0 mg of the compound can be applied to the human eye.

The pharmaceutical preparation which contains the compound may be conveniently admixed with a non-toxic pharmaceutical organic carrier, or with a non-toxic pharmaceutical inorganic carrier. Typical of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are, for example, water, mixtures of water and water-miscible solvents such as lower alkanols or aralkanols, vegetable oils, peanut oil, polyalkylene glycols, petroleum based jelly, ethyl cellulose, ethyl oleate, carboxymethyl-cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, isopropyl myristate and other conventionally employed acceptable carriers. The pharmaceutical preparation may also contain non-toxic auxiliary substances such as emulsifying, preserving, wetting agents, bodying agents and the like, as for example, polyethylene glycols 200, 300, 400 and 600, carbowaxes 1,000, 1,500, 4,000, 6,000 and 10,000, antibacterial components such as quaternary ammonium compounds, phenylmercuric salts known to have cold sterilizing properties and which are non-injurious in use, thimerosal, methyl and propyl paraben, bennyl alcohol, phenyl ethanol, buffering ingredients such as sodium borate, sodium acetates, gluconate buffers, and other conventional ingredients such as sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamine, oleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitylate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, monothioglycerol, thiosorbitol, ethylenediamine tetracetic acid, and the like. Additionally, suitable ophthalmic vehicles can be used as carrier media for the present purpose including conventional phosphate buffer vehicle systems, isotonic boric acid vehicles, isotonic sodium chloride vehicles, isotonic sodium borate vehicles and the like. The pharmaceutical preparation may also be in the form of a microparticle formulation. The pharmaceutical preparation may also be in the form of a solid insert. For example, one may use a solid water soluble polymer as the carrier for the medicament. The polymer used to form the insert may be any water soluble non-toxic polymer, for example, cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, (hydroxyloweralkyl cellulose), hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; acrylates such as polyacrylic acid salts, ethylacrylates, polyactylamides; natural products such as gelatin, alginates, pectins, tragacanth, karaya, chondrus, agar, acacia; the starch derivatives such as starch acetate, hydroxymethyl starch ethers, hydroxypropyl starch, as well as other synthetic derivatives such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyfrolidone, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyethylene oxide, neutralized carbopol and xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures of said polymer.

Suitable subjects for the administration of the formulation of the present invention include primates, man and other animals, particularly man and domesticated animals such as cats, rabbits and dogs.

The pharmaceutical preparation may contain non-toxic auxiliary substances such as antibacterial components which are non-injurious in use, for example, thimerosal, benzalkonium chloride, methyl and propyl paraben, benzyldodecinium bromide, benzyl alcohol, or phenylethanol; buffering ingredients such as sodium chloride, sodium borate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, or gluconate buffers; and other conventional ingredients such as sorbitan monolaurate, triethanolamine, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitylate, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, and the like.

The ophthalmic solution or suspension may be administered as often as necessary to maintain an acceptable IOP level in the eye. It is contemplated that administration to the mammalian eye will be from once up to three times daily.

For topical ocular administration the novel formulations of this invention may take the form of solutions, gels, ointments, suspensions or solid inserts, formulated so that a unit dosage comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the active component or some multiple thereof in the case of a combination therapy.

The compounds of the instant invention are also useful for mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts. See PCT US99/23757 filed Oct. 12, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The major prostaglandin receptor in bone is EP₄, which is believed to provide its effect by signaling via cyclic AMP. See Ikeda T, Miyaura C, Ichikawa A, Narmniya S, Yoshiki S and Suda T 1995, In situ localization of three subtypes (EP ₁ , EP ₃ and EP ₄) of prostaglandin E receptors in embryonic and newborn mice., J Bone Miner Res 10 (sup 1):S172, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for mediating the bone modeling and remodeling processes are also included in this invention

Thus, another object of the present invention is to provide methods for stimulating bone formation, i.e. osteogenesis, in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I.

Still another object of the present invention to provide methods for stimulating bone formation in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I and a bisphosphonate active. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for stimulating bone formation is also included in this invention.

Yet another object of the present invention to provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I and a bisphosphonate active.

It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for treating or reducing the risk of contracting a disease state or condition related to abnormal bone resorption in a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention, comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I. Use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or reducing the risk of contracting a disease state or condition related to abnormal bone resorption is also included in this invention.

The disease states or conditions related to abnormal bone resorption include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis, Paget's disease, abnormally increased bone turnover, periodontal disease, tooth loss, bone fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis, osteogenesis imperfecta, metastatic bone disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and multiple myeloma.

Within the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I and a bisphosphonate active, both concurrent and sequential administration of the EP₄ receptor subtype agonist of formula I and the bisphosphonate active are deemed within the scope of the present invention. Generally, the formulations are prepared containing 5 or 10 mg of a bisphosphonate active, on a bisphosphonic acid active basis. With sequential administration, the agonist and the bisphosphonate can be administered in either order. In a subclass of sequential administration the agonist and bisphosphonate are typically administered within the same 24 hour period. In yet a further subclass, the agonist and bisphosphonate are typically administered within about 4 hours of each other.

Nonlimiting examples of bisphosphonate actives useful herein include the following:

Alendronic acid, 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid;

Alendronate (also known as alendronate sodium or alendronate monosodium trihydrate), 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium trihydrate;

Alendronic acid and alendronate are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,007, to Kieczykowski et al., issued May 1, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,651, to Kieczykowski et al., issued May 28, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,517, to Dauer et al., issued Apr. 23, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,491, to Dauer et al., issued Jul. 15, 1997, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety;

Cycloheptylaminomethylene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid, YM 175, Yamanouchi (cimadronate), as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,335, to Isomura et al., issued Nov. 13, 1990, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety;

1,1-dichloromethylene-1,1-phosphonic acid (clodronic acid), and the disodium salt (clodronate, Procter and Gamble), are described in Belgium Patent 672,205 (1966) and J. Org. Chem 32, 4111 (1967), both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety;

1-hydroxy-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-propylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (EB-1053);

1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (etidronic acid);

1-hydroxy-3-(N-methyl-N-pentylamino)propylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid, also known as BM-210955, Boehringer-Mannheim (ibandronate), is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,814, issued May 22, 1990, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety;

6-amino-1-hydroxyhexylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (neridronate);

3-(dimethylamino)-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (olpadronate);

3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (pamidronate);

[2-(2-pyridinyl)ethylidene]-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (piridronate) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,406, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety;

1-hydroxy-2-(3-pyridinyl)-ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (risedronate);

(4-chlorophenyl)thiomethane-1,1-isphosphonic acid (tiludronate) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,248, to Brellere et al., Oct. 24, 1989, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and

1-hydroxy-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (zolendronate).

A non-limiting class of bisphosphonate actives useful in the instant invention are selected from the group consisting of alendronate, cimadronate, clodronate, tiludronate, etidronate, ibandronate, neridronate, olpandronate, risedronate, piridronate, pamidronate, zolendronate, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

A non-limiting subclass of the above-mentioned class in the instant case is selected from the group consisting of alendronate, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

A nonlimiting example of the subclass is alendronate monosodium trihydrate.

In the present invention, as it relates to bone stimulation, the agonist is typically administered for a sufficient period of time until the desired therapeutic effect is achieved. The term “until the desired therapeutic effect is achieved”, as used herein, means that the therapeutic agent or agents are continuously administered, according to the dosing schedule chosen, up to the time that the clinical or medical effect sought for the disease or condition being mediated is observed by the clinician or researcher. For methods of treatment of the present invention, the compounds are continuously administered until the desired change in bone mass or structure is observed. In such instances, achieving an increase in bone mass or a replacement of abnormal bone structure with normal bone structure are the desired objectives. For methods of reducing the risk of a disease state or condition, the compounds are continuously administered for as long as necessary to prevent the undesired condition. In such instances, maintenance of bone mass density is often the objective. Nonlimiting examples of administration periods can range from about 2 weeks to the remaining lifespan of the mammal. For humans, administration periods can range from about 2 weeks to the remaining lifespan of the human, preferably from about 2 weeks to about 20 years, more preferably from about 1 month to about 20 years, more preferably from about 6 months to about 10 years, and most preferably from about 1 year to about 10 years.

The instant compounds are also useful in combination with known agents useful for treating or preventing bone loss, bone fractures, osteoporosis, glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis, Paget's disease, abnormally increased bone turnover, periodontal disease, tooth loss, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, periprosthetic osteolysis, osteogenesis imperfecta, metastatic bone disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and multiple myeloma. Combinations of the presently disclosed compounds with other agents useful in treating or preventing osteoporosis or other bone disorders are within the scope of the invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to discern which combinations of agents would be useful based on the particular characteristics of the drugs and the disease involved. Such agents include the following: an organic bisphosphonate; a cathepsin K inhibitor; an estrogen or an estrogen receptor modulator; an androgen receptor modulator; an inhibitor of osteoclast proton ATPase; an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase; an integrin receptor antagonist; an osteoblast anabolic agent, such as PTH; calcitonin; Vitamin D or a synthetic Vitamin D analogue; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and mixtures thereof. A preferred combination is a compound of the present invention and an organic bisphosphonate. Another preferred combination is a compound of the present invention and an estrogen receptor modulator. Another preferred combination is a compound of the present invention and an estrogen. Another preferred combination is a compound of the present invention and an androgen receptor modulator. Another preferred combination is a compound of the present invention and an osteoblast anabolic agent.

Regarding treatment of abnormal bone resorption and ocular disorders, the formula I agonists generally have an EC₅₀ value from about 0.001 nM to about 100 microM, although agonists with activities outside this range can be useful depending upon the dosage and route of administration. In a subclass of the present invention, the agonists have an EC₅₀ value of from about 0.01 microM to about 10 microM. In a furter subclass of the present invention, the agonists have an EC₅₀ value of from about 0.1 microM to about 10 microM. EC₅₀ is a common measure of agonist activity well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and is defined as the concentration or dose of an agonist that is needed to produce half, i.e. 50%, of the maximal effect. See also, Goodman and Gilman's, The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics, 9th edition, 1996, chapter 2, E. M. Ross, Pharmacodynamics, Mechanisms of Drug Action and the Relationship Between Drug Concentration and Effect, and PCI US99/23757, filed Oct. 12, 1999, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

The herein examples illustrate but do not limit the claimed invention. Each of the claimed compounds are EP₄ agonists and are useful for a number of physiological ocular and bone disorders.

Some abbreviations that may appear in this application are as follows:

Abbreviations

Designation CDI 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole DHP 4-dihydro-2H-pyran LiOH lithium hydroxide NaBH4 sodium borohydride NaH sodium hydride nBu3SnN3 azidotributyltin. PG protecting groups TBSCl tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride TsOH p-toluenesulfonic acid

Compounds stated in the present invention can be prepared according to the following general scheme. All variables are as defined above unless otherwise indicated.

Preparation of compounds in the present invention is further illustrated by the following specific example. Following the general scheme described above and the procedure exemplified in the example, compounds of the invention have alternative groups for the defined variables can be prepared, e.g. following the procedure below, methyl 5-(3-bromopropyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate can be replaced with methyl 5-(3-bromopropyl)benzyl-2-carboxylate, or methyl 5-(3-bromopropyl)thiazole-2-carboxylate, to make the corresponding pyrrolidinone.

EXAMPLE 1 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxyphenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid (9 and 10)

The preparation of compounds 9 and 10 was carried out according to the follow scheme.

The preparation of 1 was carried out according to the literature procedure (see: Tetrahedron 1994, 6221)

(5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-oxo-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (2)

At −72° C., oxalyl chloride (544 μL) was added dropwise to a solution of dimethylsulfoxide (480 μL) in CH₂Cl₂ (14 ml) and the mixture was stirred 20 min at that temperature. A solution of (5R)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (714 mg, 3.04 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (10 ml) was then added slowly and the mixture was stirred for an hour at −72° C. Triethylamine (2.0 ml) was then added dropwise and the mixture was allowed to warm to 0° C. Water was added and the product was extracted in CH₂Cl₂, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated to dryness. It was used as such in the next step. ¹H NMR (acetone-d₆) δ 9.50 (s, 1H), 7.20 (d, 2H), 6.90 (d, 2H), 4.80 (d, 1E1), 4.14 (d, 1H), 4.06 (m, 1H), 3.79, (s, 3H), 2.20-2.45 (m, 3H), 2.12 (m, 1H).

To a solution of dimethyl 3,3 difluoro-2-oxo-3-phenylpropylphosphonate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,136 March. 16, 1982) (2.076 g) in THF (17 mL) at 0° C. was added potassium tert-butoxide (963 mg) and the mixture was stirred for an additional 1 hour at 0° C. To the mixture was then added 2R)-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carbaldehyde in THF (10 mL) via cannula and the resultant mixture stirred at room temperature 2 hours and quenched with saturated NH₄Cl. The mixture was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×) and the organic layer was washed with water, brine, dried over Mg₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography using 20% acetone/toluene as the eluent to give the desired product 2.

5-(4,4-Difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-but-1-enyl)-1-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one (3)

To a solution of 2 (8.2 g, 21.2 mmol) in 80 mL CH₂Cl₂ was added 1M (S)CBS in toluene (10.6 mL, 10.6 mmol) and cooled to −40° C. to which a solution of catechol borane (6.8 mL, 63.8 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) was added dropwise. The solution was stirred at −40° C. for one hour and allowed to warm up to −20° C. during the following two hours. The reaction mixture was quenched at −20° C. with 1 N HCl and was stirred for 4 hours at room temperature. The phases were separated and the organic phase was sequentially washed with 1N HCl, H₂O, 1 N NaOH, brine and dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The compound was purified by flash chromatography using 40-50% ethyl acetate/hexanes to give the desired product 3 as a pale yellow oil. MS M+1) 388.2

(5R)-5-((1E)-3-{[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]oxy}-4,4-difluoro-4-phenylbut-1 enyl)-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (4)

To a solution 3 (365 mg) in DMP (3 mL) at room temperature was added imidazole (139 mg) followed by TBSCI (220 mg). The mixture was stirred over the weekend and then quenched with water. The mixture was extrated with ether (3×) and washed with water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Purified by column chromatography (50% ethyl acetate:hexane) afforded compound 4.

(5R)-5-((1E)-3-{[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]oxy}-4,4-difluoro-4-phenylbut-1-enyl)pyrrolidin-2-one

To a solution of 4 (359 mg) in acetonitrile (20 mL) at 0° C. was added CAN (2 g), water (2 mL) and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature for 4 hours. The mixture was extrated with ether (3×) and was washed with water, brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. Purification by column chromatography (50%-75%-100% ethyl acetate in hexane) afforded compound 5. ¹H NMR (400 Mz, CDCl₃): δ 7.50-7.40 (m, 5H), 5.70-5.65 (m, 2H), 4.50-4.42 (m, 1H), 4.20-4.13 (m, 1H), 2.37-2.30 (m, 3H), 1.80-1.70 (m, 1H), 0.87 (s, 9H), −0.05 (d, 6H).

methyl 5-{3-[(2R)-2-((1E)-3-{[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]oxy}-4,4-difluoro-4-phenylbut-1-enyl)-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl]propyl}thiophene-2-carboxylate (6)

To a solution of NaH 60% (30 mg) in DMF (2 mL) was added 5 (182 mg) in DMF (2 mL), methyl 5-(3-bromopropyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate (200 mg) in DMF (1.5 mL) and NaI (30 mg). The mixture was stirred at 500C for 3 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was quenched with saturated NH4Cl and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The organic layer was washed with water, brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. The crude was purified by flash chromatography. Eluting with 50% ethyl acetate in hexanes gave the desired product 6.

methyl 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate (7 and 8)

To a solution of 6 (230 mg) in TVF (5 mL) was added TBAF (1.0 M in TBF, 0.6 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate) affording a mixture of compounds 7 (less polar) and 8 (more polar). The isomers were separated by HPLC (Chiralpak AD®) using 30% isopropanol in hexanes. Isomer 7 ¹H NMR (400 MH, CDCl₃): δ 7.65 (d, 1H), 7.49-7.42 (m, 5H), 6.83 (d, 1H), 5.72-5.60 (m, 2H), 4.61-4.55 (m, 1H), 4.08-4.02 (m, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.54-3.46 (m, 1H), 2.89-2.78 (m, 3H), 2.40-2.32 (m, 2H), 2.21-2.14 (m, 1H), 1.87-1.77 (m, 21), 1.70-1.63 (m, 1H). Isomer 8 ¹H NMR (400 MD, CDCl₃): δ 7.65 (d, 1H), 7.49-7.43 (m, 5H), 6.83 (d, 1H), 5.72-5.61 (m, 2H), 4.61-4.54 (m, 1H), 4.07-4.02 (m, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.54-3.47 (m, 1H), 2.87-2.79 (m, 3H), 2.44-2.28 (m, 2H), 2.22-2.13 (m, 1H), 1.89-1.76 (m, 2H), 1.72-1.64 (m, 1H).

The title compounds: 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-arboxylic acid (9 and 10)

A mixture of ester 7 or 8 in methanol (4.7 mL), water (1 mL) and LiOH (0.5 mL, 1.0M)) was stirred at room temperature under N₂ overnight and concentrated to give the title compound as a lithium salt. The salt was washed with ether, acidified with HCl (1.0 N), and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The extracts were washed with water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give the title compound 2 (less polar) or 10 (more polar). MS (−ESI): m/z 434.1 (M−1).

Effects of an EP₄ Agonist on Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in Rabbits and Monkeys

Animals—Drug-naïve, male Dutch Belted rabbits and female cynomolgus monkeys are used in this study. Animal care and treatment in this investigation are in compliance with guidelines by the National Institute of Health and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology resolution in the use of animals for research. AU experimental procedures str approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Merck and Company.

Drug Preparation and Administration—Drug concentrations are expressed in terms of the active ingredient (base). The compounds of this invention are dissolved in physiological saline at 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001% for rabbit study and 0.05, 0.005% for monkey studies. Drug or vehicle aliquots (25 ul) are administered topically unilaterally or bilaterally. In unilateral applications, the contralateral eyes receive an equal volume of saline. Proparacaine (0.5%) is applied to the cornea prior to tonometry to minimize discomfort. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is recorded using a pneumatic tonometer (Alcon Applanation Pneumatonograph) or equivalent.

Statistical Analysis—The results are expressed as the changes in IOP from the basal level measured just prior to administration of drug or vehicle and represent the mean, plus or minus standard deviation. Statistical comparisons are made using the Student's t-test for non-paired data between responses of drug-treated and vehicle-treated animals and for paired data between ipsilateral and contralateral eyes at comparable time intervals. The significance of the date is also determined as the difference from the “t-0” value using Dunnett's “t” test. Asterisks represent a significance level of p<0.05.

Intraocular Pressure Measurement in Rabbits—Male Dutch Belted rabbits weighing 2.54.0 kg are maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle and rabbit chow. All experiments are performed at the same time of day to minimize variability related to diurnal rhythm. IOP is measured before treatment then the compounds of this invention or vehicle are instilled (one drop of 25 ul) into one or both eyes and IOP is measured at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 minutes after instillation. In some cases, equal number of animals treated bilaterally with vehicle only are evaluated and compared to drug treated animals as parallel controls.

Intraocular Pressure Measurements in Monkeys—Unilateral ocular hypertension of the right eye is induced in female cynomolgus monkeys weighing between 2 and 3 kg by photocoagulation of the trabecular meshwork with an argon laser system (Coherent NOVUS 2000, Palo Alto, USA) using the method of Lee at al. (1985). The prolonged increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) results in changes to the optic nerve head that are similar to those found in glaucoma patients. For IOP measurements, the monkeys are kept in a sitting position in restraint chairs for the duration of the experiment. Animals are lightly anesthetized by the intramuscular injection of S ketamine hydrochloride (3-5 mg/kg) approximately five minutes before each IOP measurement and one drop of 0.5% proparacaine was instilled prior to recording IOP. IOP is measured using a pneumatic tonometer (Alcon Applanation Tonometer) or a Digilab pneumatonometer (Bio-Rad Ophthalmic Division, Cambridge, Mass., USA). IOP is measured before treatment and generally at 30, 60, 124, 180, 300, and 360 minutes after treatment. Baseline values are also obtained at these time points generally two or three days prior to treatment. Treatment consists of instilling one drop of 25 ul of the compounds of this invention (0.05 and 0.005%) or vehicle (saline). At least one-week washout period is employed before testing on the same animal. The normotensive (contralateral to the hypertensive) eye is treated in an exactly similar manner to the hypertensive eye. IOP measurements for both eyes are compared to the corresponding baseline values at the same time point. Results are expressed as mean plus-or-minus standard deviation in mm Hg. The activity range of the compounds of this invention for ocular use is between 0.01 and 100,000 nM

Radioligand binding assays—The assays used to test these compounds were performed essentially as described in: Abramovitz M, Adam M, Boie Y, Carriere M, Denis D, Godbout C, Lamontagne S, Rochette C, Sawyer N, Tremblay NM, Belley M, Gallant M, Dufresne C, Gareau Y, Ruel R, Juteau H, Labelle M, Ouimet N, Metters K M. The utilization of recombinant prostanoid receptors to determine the affinities and selectivities of prostaglandins and related analogs. Biochim Biophys Acta 2000 Jan. 17;1483(2):285-293 and discussed below:

Stable expression of prostanoid receptors in the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293(EBNA) cell line—Prostanoid receptor (PG) cDNAs corresponding to full length coding sequences were subcloned into the appropriate sites of the mammalian expression vector pCEP4 (Invitrogen) pCEP4PG plasmid DNA was prepared using the Qiagen plasmid preparation kit (QIAGEN) and transfected into HEK 293(EBNA) cells using LipofectAMINO® (GIBCO-BRL) according to the manufacturers' instructions. HEK 293(EBNA) cells expressing the cDNA together with the hygromycin resistance gene were selected in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (MDM) supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 U/ml Penicillin-G, 100 μg/ml Streptomycin sulphate, 250 μg/ml active GENETICIN™ (G418) (all from Life Technologies, Inc./BRL) and 200 μg/ml hygromycin (Calbiochem). Individual colonies were isolated after 2-3 weeks of growth under selection using the cloning ring method and subsequently expanded into clonal cell lines. Expression of the receptor cDNA was assessed by receptor binding assays. HEK 293(EBNA) cells were grown in supplemented DMEM complete medium at 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 6% CO₂ in air, then harvested and membranes prepared by differential centrifugation (1000×g for 10 min, then 160,000×g for 30 min, all at 4° C.) following lysis of the cells by nitrogen cavitation at 800 psi for 30 min on ice in the presence of protease inhibitors (2 mM phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, 10 μM E-64, 100 μM leupeptin and 0.05 mg/ml pepstatin). The 160,000×g pellets were resuspended in 10 mM HEPES/KOH (pH 7.4) containing 1 mM EDTA at approximately 5-10 mg/ml protein by Dounce homogenisation (Dounce A; 10 strokes), frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80° C.

Prostanoid receptor binding assays—Prostanoid receptor binding assays were performed in a final incubation volume of 0.2 ml in 10 mM MES/KOH (pH 6.0) (EP subtypes, PP and TP) or 10 mM HEPES/KOH (pH 7.4) (DP and IP), containing 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM MgCl₂ (BP subtypes) or 10 mM MnCl₂ (DP, FP, IP and TP) and radioligand [0.5-1.0 nM [³]PGE₂ (181 Ci/mmol) for EP subtypes, 0.7 nM [³H]PGD₂ (115 Ci/mmol) for DP, 0.95 nM [³]PGF₂a (170 Ci/mmol) for FP, 5 nM [³H]iloprost (16 Ci/mmol) for IP and 1.8 nM [³]SQ 29548 (46 Ci/mmol) for TP]. EP₃ assays also contained 100 μM GTPγS. The reaction was initiated by addition of membrane protein (approximately 30 μg for EP₁, 20 μg for EP₂, 2 μg for EP3, 10 μg for EP₄, 60 μg for FP, 30 μg for DP, 10 μg for IP and 10 μg for TP) from the 160,000×g fraction. Ligands were added in dimethylsulfoxide (Me₂SO) which was kept constant at 1% (v/v) in all incubations. Non-specific binding was determined in the presence of 1 μM of the corresponding non-radioactive prostanoid. Incubations were conducted for 60 min (BP subtypes, PP and IP) or 30 min (DP and TP) at 30° C. (EP subtypes, DP, PP and TP) or room temperature (IP) and terminated by rapid filtration through a 96-well Unifilter GF/C (Can berra Packard) prewetted in assay incubation buffer without EDTA (at 4° C.) and using a Tomtec Mach III 96-well semi-automated cell harvester. The filters were washed with 34 ml of the same buffer, dried for 90 min at 55° C. and the residual radioactivity bound to the individual filters determined by scintillation counting with addition of 50 μl of Ultima Gold F (Can berra Packard) using a 1450 MicroBeta (Walac). Specific binding was calculated by subtracting non-specific binding from total binding. Specific binding represented 90-95% of the total binding and was linear with respect to the concentrations of radioligand and protein used. Total binding represented 5-10% of the radioligand added to the incubation media. The activity range of the compounds of this invention for bone use is between 0.01 and 100,000 nM.

Bone Resorption Assays

Animal Procedures—For mRNA localization experiments, 5-week old Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River) are euthanized by CO₂, their tibiae and calvariae are excised, cleaned of soft tissues and frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen. For EP₄ regulation experiments, 6-week old rats are given a single injection of either vehicle (7% ethanol in sterile water) or an anabolic dose of PGE2 (Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, Mich.), 3-6 mg/kg in the same vehicle) intraperitoneally. Animals are euthanized at several time points post-injection and their tibiae and calvariae, as well as samples from lung and kidney tissues are frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Cell Cultures—RP-1 periosteal cells are spontaneously immortalized from primary cultures of periosteal cells from tibae of 4-week old Sprague-Dawley rats and are cultured in DMEM (BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) with 10% fetal bovine serum (JRP Biosciences, Lenexa, KS). These cells do not express osteoblastic phenotypic markers in early culture, but upon confluence, express type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin and produce mineralized extracellular matrix. RCT-1 and RCT-3 are clonal cell lines immortalized by SV40 large T antigen from cells released from fetal rat calvair by a cmbination collagenase/hyaluronidase digestion. RCT-1 cells, derived from cells released during the first 10 minutes of digestion (fraction I), are cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (BRL) with 10% fetal bovine serum and 0.4 mg/ml G418 (BRL). These cells differentiate and express osteoblastic features upon retinoic acid treatment. RCT-3 cells, immortalized from osteoblast-enriched fraction m cells, are cultured in F-12 medium (BRL) with 5% Fetal bovine serum and 0.4 mg/ml G418. TRAB-11 cells are also immortalized by SV40 large T antigen from adult rat tibia and are cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% FBS and 0.4 mg/ml G418. ROS 17/12.8 rat osteosarcoma cells are cultured in F-12 containing 5% PBS. Osteoblast-enriched (fraction III) primary fetal rat calvaria cells are obtained by collagenase/hyaluronidase digestion of calvariae of 19 day-old rat fetuses. See Rodan et al., Growth stimulation of rat calvaria osteoblastic cells by acidic FGF, Endocrinology, 121, 1919-1923 (1987), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Cells are released during 30-50 minutes digestion (fraction III) and are cultured in F-12 medium containing 5% FBS. P815 (mouse mastocytoma) cells, cultured in Eagles MEM with 10% FBS, and NRK (normal rat kidney fibroblasts) cells, cultured in DMEM with 10% PBS, are used as positive and negative controls for the expression of EP₄, respectively. See Abramovitz et al., Human prostanoid receptors: cloning and characterization. In: Samulesson B. et al. ed) Advances in prostaglandin, Thrombosznes and leukotriene research, vol. 23, pp. 499-504 (1995) and de Larco et al., Epithelioid and fibroblastic rat kidney cell clones: EGF receptors and the effect of mouse sarcoma virus transformation, Cell Physiol., 94, 335-342 (1978), which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Northern Blot Analysis—Total RNA is extracted from the tibial metaphysis or diaphysis and calvaria using a guanidinium isothiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method after pulverizing frozen bone samples by a tissue homogenizer. See P. Chomczynski et al., Single-step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction., Analyt Biochem, 162, 156-159 (1987), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. RNA samples (20 mg) are separated on 0.9% agarose/formaldehyde gels and transferred onto nylon membranes (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). Membranes are prehybridized in Hybrisol I (Oncor, Gaithersburg, Md.) and 0.5 mg/ml sonicated salmon sperm DNA (Boehringer) at 42° C. for 3 hours and are hybridized at 420C with rat EP₂ and mouse EP₄ cDNA probes labeled with [³²P]-dCTP (Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK) by random priming using the rediprime kit (Amersham). After hybridization, membranes are washed 4 times in 2×SSC+0.1% SDS at room temperature for a total of 1 hour and once with 0.2×SSC+0.1% SDS at 55° C. for 1 hour and then exposed to Kodak XAR 2 film at −70° C. using intensifying screens. After developing the films, bound probes are removed twice with 0.1% SDS at 800C and membranes are hybridized with a human GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase) cDNA probe (purchased from Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) for loading control.

In-Situ Hybridization—Frozen tibiae are sectioned coronally at 7 mm thickness and sections are mounted on charged slides (Probe On Plus, Fisher Scientific, Springfield, N.J.) and are kept at −70° C. until hybridization. cRNA probes are labeled with ³⁵S-UTPgS ([CN, Costa Mesa, CA) using a Riboprobe II kit (Promega Madison, Wis.). Hybridization is performed overnight at 50° C. See M. Weinreb et al., Different pattern of alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin and osteocalcin expression in developing rat bone visualized by in-situ hybridization, J. Bone Miner Res., 5, 831-842 (1990) and D. Shinar et al., Expression of alphav and beta3 integrin subunits in rat osteoclasts in situ, J. Bone Miner. Res., 8, 403414 (1993), which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Following hybridization and washing, sections are dipped in Ilford K5 emulsion diluted 2:1 with 6% glycerol in water at 42° C. and exposed in darkness at 4° C. for 12-14 days. Slides are developed in Kodak D-19 diluted 1:1 with water at 150, fixed, washed in distilled water and mounted with glycerol-gelatin (Sigma) after hematoxylin staining. Stained sections are viewed under the microscope (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany), using either bright-field or dark-field optics.

Expression Of EP⁴ In Osteoblastic Cell Lines And In Bone Tissue—The expression of EP₄ and EP₂ mRNA is examined in various bone derived cells including osteoblast-enriched primary rat calvaria cells, immortalized osteoblastic cell lines from fetal rat calvaria or from adult rat tibia and an osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line. Most of the osteoblastic cells and cell lines show significant amounts of 3.8 kb EP₄ mRNA, except for the rat osteosarcoma cell line ROS 17/2.8. Consistent with this finding, in ROS 17/2.8 cells PGE₂ has no effect on intracellular cAMP, which is markedly induced in RCT-3 and TRAB-11 cells. Treatment of RCT-1 cells with retinoic acid, which promotes their differentiation, reduces the levels of EP₄ mRNA. NRK fibroblasts do not express EP₄ mRNA, while P815 mastocytoma cells, used as positive controls, express large amounts of EP₄ mRNA. In contrast to EP₄ mRNA, none of the osteoblastic cells and cell lines express detectable amounts of EP₂ mRA in total RNA samples. Expression of EP₄ mRNA in osteoblastic cells, EP₄ is also expressed in total RNA isolated from tibiae and calvariae of 5-week-old rats. In contrast, no EP₂ mRNA is found in RNA from tibial shafts.

PGE₂ Induces The Expression Of EP₄ mRNA in RP-1 Periosteal Cells And In Adult Rat Tibiae—PGE₂ enhances its own production via upregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 expression in osteoblasts and in bone tissue thus autoamplifying its own effects. PGE₂ also increases the levels of EP₄ mRNA. RP-1 cells are immortalized from a primary culture of adult rat tibia periosteum is examined. These cells express osteoblast phenotypic markers upon confluence and form mineralized bone matrix when implanted in nude mice. Similar to the other osteoblastic cells examined, RP-1 periosteal cells express a 3.8 kb EP₄ transcript. Treatment with PG132 (10⁻⁶ M) rapidly increases EP₄ mRNA levels peaking at 2 hours after treatment. PGE₂ has no effect on EP₄ mRNA levels in the more differentiated RCT-3 cells pointing to cell-type specific regulation of EP₄ expression by PGE₂. EP₂ mRNA is not expressed in RP-1 cells before or after treatment with PGE₂. To examine if PGE₂ regulates EP₄ mRNA levels in vivo in bone tissue, five-week-old male rats are injected with PGE₂ (3-6 mg/Kg). Systemic administration of PGE₂ rapidly increased EP₄ mRNA levels in the tibial diaphysis peaking at 2 h after injection. A similar effect of PGE₂ on EP₄ mRNA is observed in the tibial metaphysis and in calvaria. PGE₂ induces EP₄ mRNA levels in vitro in osteogenic periosteal cells and in vivo in bone tissue in a cell type-specific and tissue-specific manner. PGE₂ does not induce EP₂ mRNA in RP-1 cells nor in bone tissue.

Localization of EP₄ mRNA expression in bone tissue—In situ hybridization is used in order to localize cells expressing EP₄ in bone. In control experiment (vehicle-injected) rats, low expression of EP₄ is detected in bone marrow cells. Administration of a single anabolic dose of PGE₂ increased the expression of EP₄ in bone marrow cells. The distribution of silver grains over the bone marrow is not uniform and occurs in clumps or patches in many areas of the metaphysis. Within the tibial metaphysis, EP₄ expression is restricted to the secondary spongiosa area and is not seen in the primary spongiosa. Hybridization of similar sections with a sense probe (negative control) does not show any signal. EP₄ is expressed in osteoblastic cells in vitro and in bone marrow cells in vivo, and is upregulated by its ligand, PGE₂.

Agonist activity—Using standard methods for measuring agonist activity, the compounds of the invention were evaluated in cell cultures and in EP₄ receptor cell-free systems to determine the agonist activity of the compounds in terms of their EC₅₀ value. 

1. A compound having the structural formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, Y is 1) CH₂CH₂, 2) CHCH, or

Y is C(O) or CH(OH); A is (CH₂)_(n); n is 1,2,3, or 4; W a bond, unsubstituted C₁₋₆ alkylene, or C₁₋₆ alkylene substituted with 1, 2, 3, or 4 halogen atoms; Z is 1) O, 2) S,

4) HC═CH, 5) C≡C, or 6) a bond; Q is a disubstituted aryl or heteroaryl ring, wherein one ring atom of the ring is attached to the moiety

and another ring atom is attached to the moiety

R¹ is COR⁵, OH, CN, (CH₂)₁₋₃ CO₂R⁶, C(O)NHSO₂R⁸, SO₂R⁷, (CH₂)₀₋₄SO₃R⁶, CF₂SO₂NH₂, SO₂NH₂, SO₂NHCOR⁸, PO(OR⁷)₂, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, hydroxymethylketone, or (CH₂)₀₋₄R^(k), wherein R^(k) is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); R² is 1) C₁₋₆alkyl, 2) (CH₂)₀₋₈C₆₋₁₀aryl, 3) (CH₂)₀₋₈R^(m), 4) (CH₂)₀₋₈C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, 5) O—C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 6) O—C₆₋₁₀aryl, 7) O—R^(m), 8) O—C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl wherein aryl, R^(m), and cycloalkyl are unsubstituted or substituted with 1-3 groups of R^(b); R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of 1) halogen, and 2) C₁₋₆ alkyl, or R³ and R⁴, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl ring; R⁵ is 1) hydrogen, 2) OH, 3) CH₂OH, 4) C₁₋₆ alkoxy, 5) NHPO₂R⁶, 6) NHR⁹, 7) NHSO₂R⁸, or 8) NR⁶R⁷; R⁶ and R⁷ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, and C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl; R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₆₋₁₀aryl, R^(n), and C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ is C(O)R¹⁰ or SO₂R¹⁰; R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, or C₁₋₄ alkyl; R^(a) and R^(b) are independently selected from the group consisting of 1) C₁₋₆alkoxy, 2) C₁₋₆alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with a) C₁₋₆ alkoxy, b) C₁₋₆ alkylthio, c) CN, d) OH, or e) CF₃, 3) CF₃, 4) nitro, 5) amino, 6) cyano, 7) C₁₋₆alkylamino, 8) halogen 9) OR^(c), 10) OCH₂R^(c), and 11) CH₂OR^(c); R^(c) is 1) C₆₋₁₀aryl, 2) R^(s), or 3) C₃₋₈cycloalkyl; and R^(k), R^(m), R^(n) and R^(s) are independently selected from the group consisting of 1) a stable monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 5, 6 or 7 ring atoms, or a stable bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 8, 9, 10, or 11 ring atoms, wherein the monocyclic ring has 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms, independently selected from the group consisting of O, S or N, and wherein the bicyclic ring has 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms, independently selected from the group consisting of O, S or N, and 2) a stable monocyclic or bicyclic heterocycloalkyl ring system a stable, saturated monocyclic or bicyclic ring system having 3 to 10 ring atoms, wherein 1, 2, 3, or 4 ring atoms are heteroatoms selected from O, S and N.
 2. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y¹ is CHCH and Y is CH(OH).
 3. The compound of claim 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A is (CH₂)₁₋₃ and W is a bond or (CH₂)_(1-3.)
 4. The compound of claim 3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein 1) R¹ is COOH or tetrazole, 2) R² is phenyl, and 3) R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, or R³ and R⁴ together with the carbon to which they are attached, form a cyclopropyl ring.
 5. The compound of claim 4, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of


6. The compound of claim 5, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Q is selected from the group consisting of


7. The compound of claim 6 selected from the group consisting of (1) 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, (2) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-fluoro-3-hydroxy]phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)thien-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (3) 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4 difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin 1-yl}propyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylic acid, (4) 2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid, (5) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (6) 2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid, (7) [5-(2-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}ethyl)thien-2-yl]acetic acid, (8) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-fluoro-3-hydroxy-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{2-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-ylmethyl)thien-2-yl]ethyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (9) 2-(3-{(2R)-2-[(E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrroidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid, (10) 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1)₃-hydroxy-3-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)prop-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrroldin-1-yl}propyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, (11) (5R)-5-[(1E)-3-hydroxy-3-(1-phenylcyclopropyl)prop-1-enyl]-1-{3-[5-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)thien-2-yl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (12) 5-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrroidin-1-yl}propyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-carboxylic acid, (13) 4-(3-{(2R)-2-[(1E) 4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrroldin-1-yl}propyl)benzoic acid, (14) 3-(3-{(2R)-2-[(E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrroldin-1-yl}propyl)benzoic acid, (15) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[3-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (16) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[4-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)phenyl]propyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, (17) 3-[5-({(2R)-2-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-phenylbut-1-enyl]-5-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}methyl)thien-2-yl]propanoic acid, (18) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({5-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]thien-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one, (19) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[3-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)propyl]thien-3-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one, (20) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]thien-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one, (21) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4 fluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-({4-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}methyl)pyrrolidin-2-one, and (22) (5R)-5-[(1E)-4,4-difluoro-3-hydroxy-4-phenylbut-1-enyl]-1-{3-[2-(1H-tetraazol-5-yl)ethyl]benzyl}pyrrolidin-2-one, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 8. A method for treating disorders related to elevated intraocular pressure by: treating ocular hypertension, treating glaucoma, treating macular edema, treating macular degeneration, increasing retinal and optic nerve head blood velocity, increasing retinal and optic nerve tension, providing a neuroprotective effect or treating dry eyes, comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 9. A topical composition comprising the compound of formula I as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the composition comprises xanthan gum or gellan gum.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the composition is a solution or a suspension.
 12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising administering to the patient an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a β-adrenergic blocking agent, a parasympatho-mimetic agent, a Maxi-K channel blocker, a sympathomimetic agent, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, a prostaglandin, a hypotensive lipid, a neuroprotectant, and a 5-HT2 receptor agonist, is added to the formulation.
 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the β-adrenergic blocking agent is timolol, betaxolol, levobetaxolol, carteolol, or levobunolol; the parasympathomimetic agent is pilocarpine; the Maxi-K channel blocker is Penitrem A, paspalicine, charybdotoxin, or iberiotoxin, the sympathomimetic agent is epinephrine, brimonidine, iopidine, clonidine, or para-aminoclonidine; the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor is dorzolamide, acetazolamide, metazolamide or brinzolamide; the prostaglandin is latanoprost, travaprost, unoprostone, rescula, or S1033; the hypotensive lipid is lumigan; the neuroprotectant is eliprodil, R-eliprodil or memantine; and the 5-HT2 receptor agonist is 1-(2-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1H-imdazol-6-ol fumarate or 2-(3-chloro-6-methoxy-indazol-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine.
 14. A compound of formula I of any one of claims 1 to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in medicinal therapy.
 15. Use of a compound of formula I of any one of claims 1 to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating disorders related to elevated intraocular pressure.
 16. Use of a compound of formula I of any one of claims 1 to 7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as a selective EP₄ receptor agonist. 